Traveling Stress-Free

With the LugLoc will locate your luggage through an app on your phone. You can zero in on your bags location down to the exact address. Whether you’re just wrapping up spring break, or are planning a summer vacation, if the thought of lost luggage, no Wi-Fi and overweight fees leave you stressing out, we have some good news. New high tech travel products may be able to help. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan has the details.

It’s 2015, and even our luggage is now getting the Smart treatment. The Internet of Things has trickled down into tricked out suitcases and travel accessories, and for those of us willing to shell out for a bag with a high IQ, there’s no more wondering if your suitcase made the flight, no more guesstimating weight and no more app-less carry-ons — these suitcases do it all but blend you a frozen margarita. And rest assured, that blender add-on is sure to not be far behind.

The push for the connected bag solves one of the most vexing problems for travelers — lost luggage. “The last thing that you want to have happen is an unwelcome surprise of a suitcase disappearing,” said Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst for Atmosphere Research Group. “This is peace-of-mind technology.”

Travelers who want to track their luggage and not worry about the other bells and whistles can use services such as LugLoc, which uses Bluetooth and GSM technology. At the Travel Goods Showcase 2015 in Las Vegas, you would think the travelers among us are gearing up for their tenures as spies. Key must-haves with luggage items, carry-on packs, even wallets, were anti-theft protections, no-nonsense GPS technologies and luggage locks that only safe-crackers and TSA authorities can dislodge.

On Tuesday, Samsonite will introduce a new line of GeoTrakR suitcases, containing a cellular-enabled baggage-tracking system from LugLoc, at the Travel Goods Association trade show in Las Vegas. “Adding electronic capability and communications to baggage makes a lot of sense,” said Frank Gillett, an analyst at Forrester Research. “What you’re seeing is the first round of innovation that will take time to evolve. The goal is to improve the travel experience.”

Lost luggage is a primary concern for travellers and one that airlines are keen to address. In the first half of 2014 there were over 1.6 million cases of lost luggage in the US, according to the US Department of Transportation. According to an article by Andrew Price, Head of Airport Operations at IATA, the estimated cost of all baggage operations is around $29 billion a year. Little wonder then that anything that helps with making luggage handling more efficient has to be a good thing and the airline industry is moving towards new electronic solutions that address these concerns.

Individual travellers can already track their own luggage using consumer tracking tags like LugLoc. These palm-sized gadgets use cellphone technology to recognise location and report back to the company. Meanwhile, the traveller uses a smartphone app to establish where the bag is. These devices recognise when they are on board an airplane and automatically switch to airplane mode, and are also approved by aviation and security authorities.

If you’ve ever experienced the loss of your luggage, temporary or otherwise, you will recall how incredibly frustrating the situation can be. You know very well the feeling of dread that begins to creep into your gut as the crowd around the carousel thins and vacates the area. You know the displeasure of waiting in a line of other luggage-less travelers to speak to the airline’s customer service reps and you definitely know the inconvenience (if you’re still traveling) of making do without your razor, your pajamas, your blowdryer, etc.